Around the world, the digital divide poses a significant obstacle to economic opportunity, education, and social inclusion. In Armenia, this divide is most pronounced in rural communities and former centers of industrial manufacturing, where an estimated third of Armenians living in poverty reside. Lack of access to the Internet and computers prevents rural Armenians from…
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In a country where few women and girls attend secondary school, let alone higher education and even fewer pursue careers in STEM, 25 women, and girls are bucking that trend, bolstered by practical training made possible by a Beyond the Net Grant from the Internet Society Foundation. More than a decade of conflict and deeply rooted gender…
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By Gustavo Streger Access to Internet connectivity in rural Sierra Leone is limited and expensive. According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), only 21.3% of households have Internet access via a fixed or mobile network, and only 5.6% of homes have a computer. According to Media Matters for Women, very few people, most of whom are…
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The Internet has the potential to revolutionize learning, but more than access is needed. This is where Fundación SOLE Colombia, a grantee of the Internet Society Foundation’s BOLT program, comes in. They created a SOLE Lab, a physical space where people can access and use the Internet collaboratively to answer questions important to the community. …
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The Internet has revolutionized communication, connecting people across borders and cultures. But what if your language isn’t reflected in this digital space? This is the challenge Bonnita Nyamwire, Co-Director of Research at Pollicy, tackled in her groundbreaking research, which was supported by the Internet Society Foundation and conducted in collaboration with Digital Futures Lab. In…
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Ensuring the safety and privacy of children and families is of utmost importance, particularly in educational settings where technology has become vital. However, the pervasive impact of technology and its unethical use has been difficult to measure and capture. A recent report published by the Internet Safety Labs and funded by the Internet Society Foundation…
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In a world where a few dominant languages often overshadow others, the Internet Society Foundation’s Research Grant Program supports projects that aim to make the Internet more inclusive. One such project is “Are We Together?” led by Pollicy. This initiative focuses on understanding the impact of languages on digital platforms in East Africa and India.…
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Although website accessibility was a core principle in the use and development of the Internet, most websites are far from being accessible to everyone. In response, the project “Enhancing the barrier-free Internet through blind people empowerment”, aims to address this issue.
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Brazil is known for its complex bureaucracy and misunderstandings or attempts to avoid it have left many community networks operating irregularly or even illegally. As a result, many fear getting classified as ‘clandestine telecommunications services’, which can bring fines of $10,000 reais (USD $1,790) or imprisonment of two to four years.
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On the fringes of the Amazon in northeastern Brazil, many communities live in fear of attacks by invaders who slash and burn forest to make way for illegal mining, cattle and soy plantations. This is also one of the country’s poorest regions and the low potential profits have left most communities without Internet access.
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